Consequences of the Death Penalty Capital Punishment is the punishment of execution, better known as the death penalty. The death penalty punishes criminals who are convicted of a capital crime by implanting the person with lethal injections. There are around 25 people put to death per year in the United States. The death penalty has happened since eighteenth century B.C. During that time, people were hung, or their heads would be chopped off by a guillotine (DPIC). More recently, people have been executed with the electric chair. The last person to be executed by hanging took place in Delaware, 1996 (“Death Penalty Fast Facts”). The death penalty is legal in 31 states, and can be used by the federal government. For years, there has been
…show more content…
He declared that capital punishment is “contrary to the Gospel.” He claims that the death penalty is unreasonable because it “attacks the dignity of the person.” Francis has mentioned being opposed to the death penalty since becoming the pope of the Catholic Church in 2015. He stresses that capital punishment is wrong and is almost hypocritical. Pope Francis thinks that there could be a more effective way in dealing with crimes punishable by the death penalty. He believes that a life sentence is perfectly fitted for those crimes. Pope Francis spoke at a conference with the audience of bishops and priests and said “tradition is a living reality and only a partial vision can think of ‘the deposit of faith’ as something static. The Word of God cannot be conserved in mothballs as if it were an old blanket to be preserved from parasites. No. The Word of God is a dynamic reality, always alive, that progresses and grows because it tends towards a fulfillment that men cannot stop” (“Pope Francis”). Another reason Pope Francis accused the death penalty with being wrong is because people can be falsely executed. There has been many cases where this has happened. They will execute the person, and years later find out that person was not guilty of the crime. There might be some cases that the person was falsely executed that we do not even know about yet …show more content…
In 2016, 20 people were executed, an extremely low number compared to other years (“Death Penalty Fast Facts”). This decline could be possibly by people changing their views on capital punishment. Studies show if a jury has to choose between life and death, most of the time they will pick life. More people are starting to think of the death penalty as wrong, and a violation of the 8th amendment. The 8th amendment prohibits cruel and unusual punishment, which some people consider the death penalty as (DPIC). Other people believe that the death penalty is morally just because the punishment is equal to the crime committed and that it discourages crimes like homicide. Many say that it is what the criminal deserves, and people willing to commit the crime because they will be scared of getting caught and killed with the death penalty (Team, Novelguide). On the other hand, people believe that the death penalty is absolutely unjust. Some people compare it to being as wrong as slavery. They think it is a waste of taxpayer funds. The FBI has also found that places with the death penalty have the highest murder rates (Beadu). Despite these negative opinions on the death penalty, change is not coming quick or easy. Still, Americans think that the death penalty is the ultimate punishment
He declared that capital punishment is “contrary to the Gospel.” He claims that the death penalty is unreasonable because it “attacks the dignity of the person.” Francis has mentioned being opposed to the death penalty since becoming the pope of the Catholic Church in 2015. He stresses that capital punishment is wrong and is almost hypocritical. Pope Francis thinks that there could be a more effective way in dealing with crimes punishable by the death penalty. He believes that a life sentence is perfectly fitted for those crimes. Pope Francis spoke at a conference with the audience of bishops and priests and said “tradition is a living reality and only a partial vision can think of ‘the deposit of faith’ as something static. The Word of God cannot be conserved in mothballs as if it were an old blanket to be preserved from parasites. No. The Word of God is a dynamic reality, always alive, that progresses and grows because it tends towards a fulfillment that men cannot stop” (“Pope Francis”). Another reason Pope Francis accused the death penalty with being wrong is because people can be falsely executed. There has been many cases where this has happened. They will execute the person, and years later find out that person was not guilty of the crime. There might be some cases that the person was falsely executed that we do not even know about yet …show more content…
In 2016, 20 people were executed, an extremely low number compared to other years (“Death Penalty Fast Facts”). This decline could be possibly by people changing their views on capital punishment. Studies show if a jury has to choose between life and death, most of the time they will pick life. More people are starting to think of the death penalty as wrong, and a violation of the 8th amendment. The 8th amendment prohibits cruel and unusual punishment, which some people consider the death penalty as (DPIC). Other people believe that the death penalty is morally just because the punishment is equal to the crime committed and that it discourages crimes like homicide. Many say that it is what the criminal deserves, and people willing to commit the crime because they will be scared of getting caught and killed with the death penalty (Team, Novelguide). On the other hand, people believe that the death penalty is absolutely unjust. Some people compare it to being as wrong as slavery. They think it is a waste of taxpayer funds. The FBI has also found that places with the death penalty have the highest murder rates (Beadu). Despite these negative opinions on the death penalty, change is not coming quick or easy. Still, Americans think that the death penalty is the ultimate punishment